I specialize in the history of ideas, with a special interest in ancient Greek and post-Enlightenment German philosophy.

I am currently completing a book about the history of the idea of creativity, called Reality, Creativity, Discovery. I argue that creativity is an idea that we copied from Christianity and that reality is discovered rather than created.

The reason you should study the history of ideas is that we are the copiers rather than the creators of our ideas, including our ideas of ourselves. For example, if you believe in creativity, you acquired that idea from your culture. Every complex idea has a long cultural history, so to understand yourself, you have to study the history of your culture’s ideas. I can help you do that.

Dr. Lacharite’s principal areas of research include Canadian and comparative public policy, globalization and state taxation, Chinese politics and society, and international security matters. He teaches comparative politics, Chinese and American politics and government, and parties and elections in Canada.

Jason Morris has been teaching political science at UNBC since 2000, and is also an alumnus. He has worked in many positions in the so-called “real world” of politics and government. As a political scientist, Jason is interested in the politics of health care. He researches poverty alleviation best practices in developing countries, with a focus on slums in Kenya. He has produced a documentary video on youth voting and political participation. Jason is also a frequent media pundit for UNBC, volunteers with youth and enjoys playing music.​

Michael is a Professor in the Political Science Program and an Adjunct Professor in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Program at UNBC. From 2006 to 2015 he held the Canada Research Chair in Comparative Indigenous-State Relations. Michael’s research and teaching interests include the politics of ethnocultural and ethnonational diversity, Indigenous law and governance, democracy and democratization, ethics and public affairs, and the relationship between freedom and well-being.

Michael’s recent publications include Multiculturalism. A Critical Introduction (Routledge, 2012), “Self-Determination as a Collective Capability: The Case of Indigenous Peoples” (Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 2014); “Self-Determination and Indigenous Health: Is There a Connection?” E-International Relations, 2014); “Multiculturalism” (Oxford Bibliographies in Philosophy, 2018); and “Self-Determination Theory: Political and Psychological,” forthcoming in David McGrane and Neil Hibbert (eds), Contemporary Canadian Political Theory (Toronto: University of Toronto Press).

Dr. Tracy Summerville is a Professor of Political Science at UNBC. Her research includes work on BC politics and the impacts of globalization on northern British Columbia. Dr. Summerville loves to be in the classroom and she believes deeply in empowering students to take ownership of their learning. She was the recipient of the UNBC Teaching Award in 2000 and she was short listed for the Canadian Political Science Prize for Teaching Excellence in 2010. She received the 2011 Robert W. Tait Award on Implementing Teaching Excellence at UNBC. In 2013 she was the recipient of the UNBC Advancement of Literacy Award and the UNBC Excellence in Teaching Award. And, in 2016 she was one of a team of recipients of the UNBC Advancement of Literacy Award for their work in the IASK Program.

Dr. Gary WilsonProfessorBA (Hons) in Political Science (Carleton); MA in Russian and East European Studies (Toronto); PhD in Political Science (Toronto)Office: ADMIN 3066Tel: 250-960-5514Email:gary.wilson@unbc.ca

My research and teaching examines the remarkable resiliency and adaptability of regions and communities in the face of the powerful forces of global change. My work on Arctic politics and governance explores the multidimensional relationships that exist between Inuit regional governments and organizations, and non-Aboriginal governments at the provincial, national and international levels. I am also interested in the ways that small island regions, such as the Isle of Man in the British Isles, are protecting and revitalizing their indigenous languages and cultures in a world that is becoming increasingly homogenized. Closer to home, I study the impacts that global processes and changes are having on communities across northern British Columbia and other parts of the Canadian provincial norths.

Adjunct Faculty

For several years Walt practised law as an associate and partner of a local law firm, primarily in the areas of municipal law, real estate development and business law. In 2008, Walt joined the City of Prince George and currently holds the position of General Manager of Administrative services, which includes the responsibilities of City Solicitor, Corporate Officer, and managing several administrative divisions. Walt began teaching at UNBC in 2002. In the Political Science department, Walt teaches courses relating to municipal law and introductory Canadian law. Walt also teaches a course in the MBA program relating to business law, ethics and corporate governance.

Alberto De Feo has a 30-year career in local government which began as CAO in Italy and currently involves serving as CAO for the District of Lake Country. Alberto joined the UNBC Political Science Department in 2009 as an Adjunct Professor and teaches courses in local government administration, services, ethics, leadership, and project management.

Very active in both his professional and academic life, Alberto has served as President of the LGMA and the Association of Records Management Administrators of BC and Yukon; as member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Tsunami Recovery Committee; and while with the Township of Langley, managed an FCM capacity-building program with the City of San Fernando La Union in the Philippines. Alberto has earned facilitator certifications with Franklin Covey and Cognitive Edge, and continues to foster his interest in personal education and professional development. He is currently serving as President of CivicInfo BC.

Professor Emeritus

Alex is a Professor Emeritus with the Political Science Department. He has published 23 books and over 95 refereed articles, and founded or co-founded 6 scholarly journals. He is the President of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO’s Sectoral Commission on Natural, Social and Human Sciences, and a past President of Academy II (Humanities and Social Sciences) of the Royal Society of Canada, and of the International Society for Quality of Life Studies. He has won several awards of distinction, including the:•Gold Medal for Achievement in Research (2004) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (the Council’s highest honour);•Award for the Betterment of the Human Condition (2003) from the International Society for Quality of Life Studies;•Vincentian Ethics Scholar Award (2002) by the Vincentian Universities of the USA;•Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Quality of Life Research (1996) from the International Society for Quality of Life Studies;•Secretary of State’s Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research in Canadian Studies (1984);•British Columbia Political Science Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2005);•Honorary Doctor of Letters from Thompson Rivers University, B.C. (2005); and•Deryck Thompson Award for Community Social Planning (2006) from the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C.